Corset



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE G. BATES, OF NORTH BROOKFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CO RS ET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 235,928, dated December 28, 1880.

Application filed September 29, 1880; (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE (LBATES, ofNorth Brookfield, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Corsets, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyin g drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to corsets, and has for its object the production of an improved corset having a stiffened yet flexible gore or portion extending from the front of the hip nearly to the steels at the front of the corset, the said flexible gore or portion being stiffened by a series of bones or equivalent stiffening-strips extended nearly vertically across the said curved series of bones, the vertical series of bones extending, preferably, from the top to the bottom of the corset.

The vertical series of bones aid very materially-in keeping the bones of the gore portion in true position, make the gore part stiffer, and cause it better to retain the shape given to the lower end of the front of the corset, and enable the lower end of the front of the corset to be turned or curved inwardly to fit the person.

Figure 1 represents, in elevation, the left half of a'corset and a very little of the right half; and Fig. 2, a like view of the inner side of the left half.

The half A of the corset is composed of pieces a. I) 0 and gore-pieces e, e, e, and f, all of usual shape.

The usual hip-gore, f, at the front part of the corset is in this improved corset stiffened in two directions-win, first, by a series of bones or cords or other suitable flexible material, g, extending from the side seam, h, to the bottom of the front of the corset, the said stiffened gore going forward over the abdomen to the point t at the front of the corset, near the usual steelsj, the said series of bones or cords or other suitable flexible material in the gore portion being curved or slanted upwardly from the bottom of the corset toward the said side seam, h, as indicated by the series of dotted lines, Fig. 1. This stiffening gore portion is. shown as yet further stiffened entirely across it to the lower edge of the corset by what I herein denominate the vertical series of bones m, extending across the series of bones, cords, or flexible material of the gorepieces. These vertical bones m, either at the front or rear of the bones, cords, or flexible material of the gore piece f, keep the bones, cords, or other flexible material of the said gore-pieces in position, stiffen the lower part of the corset, prevent the corset bending or creasing at the upper edges of the gore-pieces, as is the case when the bones terminate at the top of the gore-piece, and the vertical bones also aid in maintaining the inward curve of v the lower end of the corset, and generally improve its fit to the person.

I am aware that it is not new to extend a series of bones about the lower part of the corset, the said bones running substantially parallel with the lower edge of the corset; but bones stitched into the corset parallel with the lower edge of the same are liable to crowd upward or override, which is impossible when the ends of the bones are made to terminate at the bottom of the corset.

The letter B represents a portion of the right half of the corset.

I claim 1. In a corset, the hip section having in its lower portion bones or stiffening-strips running diagonally from the rear edge of said section downward and forward, and also having vertical bones or stiffening-strips extended across the series of diagonal bones or stifi'ening-strips, substantially as described.

2. .In a corset, the front pieces and the gorepieces f, located between the side seams and steels. and stiffened by a series of bones, g, or stiffening-strips, combined with the series of bones m made to extend across the bones g, for the purpose and as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODORE 0. BATES.

Witnesses:

H. H. FAIRBANKS, BENJ. L. SAMPsoN. 

